FOUAD M. FOUAD, MD Assistant Research Professor Faculty of Health Sciences American University of Beirut

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1 The Global Health Initiative (GHI) at Mailman School of Public Health and The Columbia Global Policy Initiative RESPONDING TO HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCIES: NEW IMPERATIVES Featured speaker: FOUAD M. FOUAD, MD Assistant Research Professor Faculty of Health Sciences American University of Beirut Panelists: Wafaa El-Sadr, MD, MPH,MPA ICAP & GHI Moderator Alastair Ager, PhD, Forced Migration and Health Mark Fussell, MPA, ICAP at Columbia University Therese McGinn, DrPH, RAISE Initiative

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3 Definitions Refugee Any person who owing to wellfounded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of particular social group or political opinion is outside the country of his nationality. Refugee convention, 1951 Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Persons who flee their homes for similar reasons as refugees but who remain inside their own countries Displaced Persons (DPs) Refugees and/or IDPs

4 Source: UNHCR, IDMC (INTERNAL DISPLACEMENT MONITORING CENTRE)

5 Refugees Total of 15.2 million refugees at the beginning of million(unhcr) 4.8 million (UNRWA) Refugees of concerns to UNHCR: Spread around the world with half in Asia and 28% in Africa Living conditions varying from well-established camps and collective centers to makeshift shelter or living in the open Half living in urban areas. Source:

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7 IDPs by conflict and violence 63% of all IDPs: Syria, Colombia, Nigeria, DRC, Sudan 43% of IDPs are from Syria alone

8 Internal Displacement by Region Sub Saharan Africa: 12.5 million Middle East and North Africa: 9.1 million The Americas: 6 million Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia: 2.2 million South and South East Asia: 3.2 million

9 Causes of Mortality and Morbidity: 60 80% of all deaths among displaced groups due to measles, diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, malaria and malnutrition 85% of refugees originate from, and remain within, countries with high burdens of tuberculosis 25 million, adults and children living with HIV in sub-saharan Africa, the region currently experiencing the highest concentration of global emergencies > 90% of cases of neglected tropical and vector borne diseases are in conflict settings 75-80% those living in conflict and insecurity are women and adolescent girls who need reproductive health 33 of 50 countries affected by conflict rank lowest in mother and children's indicators (i.e. health, contraceptive use, infant mortality)

10 Percent of Total Deaths Attributed to NCDs

11 Causes of Mortality and Morbidity: 60 80% of all deaths among displaced groups due to measles, diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, malaria and malnutrition 85% of refugees originate from, and remain within, countries with high burdens of tuberculosis 25 million, adults and children living with HIV in sub-saharan Africa, the region currently experiencing the highest concentration of global emergencies > 90% of cases of neglected tropical and vector borne diseases are in conflict settings 75-80% those living in conflict and insecurity are women and adolescent girls who need reproductive health 33 of 50 countries affected by conflict rank lowest in mother and children's indicators (i.e. health, contraceptive use, infant mortality) From 10% to 20%, common mental health disorders double in emergencies 80% of NCD-related deaths occur in developing countries, which face the greatest burden from global and regional conflict as well as increased vulnerability to the effects of climate change and natural disasters

12 Humanitarian Emergencies: New Imperatives Refugees in non-traditional settings Burden on host countries and their health systems Broad needs of displaced people Acute communicable diseases Maternal and child health Nutrition Chronic conditions: Communicable: HIV, Tuberculosis Non-communicable: e.g. diabetes, heart disease, mental illness Sexual and reproductive health Others Needs of workers engaged in humanitarian assistance

13 Aleppo Diary by Fouad Mohammed Fouad Writing is pain. And the blood that drips down the screen pollutes the atmosphere staining the couch with what looks like dried coffee, which we touch with trembling fingers so we don't get infected. We manage with broken backs as if going to hell seeing dark red - no, brown as well - which deposits a residue like rust in the soul. We stroke their old heads then turn aside to lick away the tears. Those who crawl from street to screen leave green traces on the asphalt that spring into bushes of basil; they toss us a flower and die in haste to spare our shame. Now you've entered the sacred valley, take off your shoes and walk on broken glass.